Vending machine rotary article carrier having capacity increasing divider structure



3,158,417 VENDING MACHINE ROTARY ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING CAPACITY 1964 E.c. JOHNSON INCREASING DIVIDER STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20,1963 IN VEN TOR. E/mefl 6. Jo/msarr Nov. 24, 1964 E. c. JOHNSON3,158,417

VENDING MACHINE ROTARY ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING CAPACITY INCREASINGDIVIDER STRUCTURE Filed May 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4- I \l \hll {M9622 I. 32 \26 26 //0 5 6 30 0 INVENTOR. 25 //0 gay zf/mefl d .Jafimsaxr13:32:32 BY 26 Z 6. MW?

% I ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,158,417 VENDING MACHINE ROTARYARTICLE CARRIER HAVING CAPACITY INCREASING DIVIDER STRUCTURE Elmer C.Johnson, Raytown, Mo assignor to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., acorporation of Missouri Filed May 20, 1963, Ser. No. 281,633 11 Claims.(Cl. 31297.1)

This invention relates to vending machines, and more particularly toapparatus for increasing the capacity of machines having rotatableproduct-supporting shelf structure.

It is well known to construct vending machines having rotatable shelveswhich are divided into a series of compartments, each of which may berotated into registry with a product delivery opening in the machine. Acomplete description of such a machine has been set forth in mycopending application entitled Universal Vending Apparatus, Serial No.42,408, filed July 12, 1960, now Patent No. 3,122,401, granted February25, 1964, and which is incorporated into this application by reference.

Although vending machines of this type have met with widespreadcommercial success, one major disadvantage has presented itself when themachines are used for vending certain products. By virtue of theutilization in such machines of rotatable shelf structure of generallycircular construction, the dividing of the shelves by radially extendingpartitions results in generally wedgeshaped compartments. Although thisshape is well suited for certain products, many of the products to bevended have relatively circular or rectangular perimeters. The wedgeshape of the compartment requires that the radial dimension thereof berather large compared to the dimension of the product and this has, inthe past, resulted in the waste of much of the space in the vendingmachine. This space loss has, in turn, dictated more frequent operatorattention to the machines and also has resulted in loss of sales whenthe compartments were permitted to become empty.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the instant invention toincrease the capacity of a rotatable shelf vending machine by providingnovel structure to present, in heretofore wasted space, compartmentsfrom which additional products may be vended.

It isanother important object of this invention to provide such capacityincreasing structure which may be economically fabricated and quicklyand easily installed in the vending machine so that the cost ofproviding the structure does not outweigh the economical advantagesattendant with the increased vending capacity available with machinesequipped with such structure.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide structure whereinthe additional product compartments are positively locked to preventpilfering until the machine has been properly operated by deposittherein of the proper amount of money by the Jcustomer.

Another object of the invention is to provide spaceincreasing structureincluding additional product compaitmen-ts spacedto the rear of forwardcompartments and which areaccessible to the customer through the forwardcompartments while the latter arestill aligned with the deliveryopening.

A yet further object of the instant invention is to provide shelfstructure having novel product dividing partitions wherein the forwardcompartments remainin registry with the delivery opening through agreater are of ,rotation of the shelf than=is nece ssary to allowremoving of the product therefrom' thus permitting the shelf .tofiberotated for unlocking the rear compartment with- 3,158,417 Patented Nov.24, 1964 ice out moving the forward compartment from registry with theopening.

These and other important objects, advantages and details ofconstruction of the present invention will become obvious or beexplained in greater detail as the following specifications progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, horizontal, cross-sectional view through avending machine embodying the concepts of the instant invention, partsbeing broken away and shown in cross section to reveal detailsofconstruction;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; 7

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, parts beingbroken away to reveal details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a. fragmentary, horizontal, cross-sectional view similar toFIG. 1 but showing the pivotal door in the product vending locationthereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view through themachine showing one shelf assembly of the machine embodying the conceptsof this invention, parts being bro-ken away for clearness; and

FIG.- 6 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the shelf flangeshowing the slots therein with clips positioned in the preferredsequence for proper operation of a vending machine incorporating thenovel structure of this invention.

The structure embodying the principles of the instant invention includesa rotary article-carrying assembly broadly designated 10 which isadapted to be utilized in a vending machine 12 having insulated sidewalls 14 defining a product delivery opening 16. I,

A vending machine utilizing the principles of this invention willnormally be provided with a plurality of assemblies 10 which may bedisposed invertically stacked relationship. It is considered that onlyone of the assemblies 10 need be illustrated to convey a full andcomplete understanding of the constructionand functionare of uniformsize and are disposed so that the center lines of respective apertures28 lie on radii spaced evenly at 5 37 /2 intervals around member 22.

Member 22 is carried for rotation by support 18 by the means of aplurality ofupturned, U-shaped brackets 30 secured to the uppersurfac'eof support 18 and mounting therein rollers 32 in disposition forengaging the bottom surface of member 22, asbest seen in: FIGS. 4 and 5.Members 20 and 22 comprise product-carrier means rotatable past opening16., The members 20 and 22 carry therebetween product compartmentdefining means in the form of dividing structures broadly designated 34.Each structure 34 includes a vertically disposed wall 36 having afirstleg 38 commencing 'proximmthe outer. peripheral margin of members 20"and22 and extending generally along a radius thereof until merging intoasecond leg40 which isintegral with leg 38 and is bent at a slight angletherefrom as shown 'inFIG. '1.v The innermost margin of leg 40terminates'in an integral tab 42 which is received in a verticallyextending slot 44 in wall 24. Another open position.

3 v vertically disposed wall section 46 integral with tab 42 extendsoutwardly therefrom at an acute angle from leg 40 and merges into a leg48 which extends into contact with walL36 as shown in FIG. 1. t it a toA tab 50 integral with the lowermost margin of wall section46 isreceived in a slotr52in member '22 to aid in the support of dividingstructure 34 and cooperates with a cylindrical portion 54 at the outervertically extending margin of leg 38 receiving therein pin means 56 tosecure structure 34 in place. It may be seen frornrFIGf that pin means56 extends through an aperture (not shown) in member 20, passes throughportion 54 and is received in an aperture (not shown) in member 22; Asshownin. the drawings, structures 34 are disposed at regular intervalsaround the periphery of assembly 10, each structure 34 beingcircumferentially spaced from an adjacent structure 34. A verticallydisposed, substantially rectangular wall member 58 extending generallyparallel to leg 38 of wall 36 has an outer,,cylindn'cal portion 6%)receiving therein pin means 62 identical to .pin 56. .Pin means 62cooperates with an integral depending flange member 64 on member 58 tohold the latter in vertical disposition and extending generally on aradius of the circularrnembers 2'0 and 22. Thus, wall section 46 of adividing structure 34' with the leg 40 of the next adjacent structure 34and member 58, with leg/38 of theadjacent structure '34 cooperatetodefinetherebetween a generally rectangular product compartment 66. rup Compartment 66 is additionally divided into a forward chanib er 68and a rear chamber 70 byte door 72 pivoted to members 20 and 22. As bestseen in 'FIG..2, door 72 includes a plate 74 pivoted by means ofanintegral tab 76 on the lower marginr of plate 74-.tomember '22 by meansof a bushing'78 disposed in an aperture '80 in member22. a

A second integral tab 82 on the upper marginofsplat'e 74 is received ina generally cylindrical retaining element 84 having a bore 86 thereinreceiving tab 82. rElement T 84 may be securedjto the upperv platemember 20 by screw means 88. vA coil spring 9daround element '84 hasopppsedends thereof embracing member 20 and plate 7.4 :respectively, tobia's d'oor 72 in the direction of the-arrow 92 injFIG. and into theposition therein illustrated extending generally parallel with wallmember 58.. An integral depending ,tab 9 4 on the lowermost margin ofplate 74 extends through an arcuate slotr96'in'imember 22. Slot '96extends from a 'pointadjacent member 58 to a point underlying door 72when the latter is'in its normal position across compartment 66 dividingthela'tter into chambers 68 and 70 of approximately equal siz'e,asshownin FIG. 1. n r v I 4 V 1 An elongated, "U-shaped barrier 28 rigidlysecured to support 18 and has a bightjbtion tltldextending in verticallyspaced'relationship from the upper'snrface of support 18 -as"best seenin FIG. 5. ltrwillfbeyseen from FIGS. 1 and 4 that barrier '98 isdispos'ed to be engaged by the -depeinding tab 9i4 ofplate 74 forholdingthedoor 72 in its chamber dividing position'when compartment 66is firstdisposed in substantial registryrwith openin'g16 of a blockingrelationship to tab 94 and door 72 is thereby permitted to shift underthe bias of spring toward its A third product-containing chamber ld2 isdefined between leg 38 of wall 36; leg48 of dividing structure 3 4, andwall member 58,. The disposition of member 58 and structure 34 is suchthat chamber 102'is roughly of equal size to chambers 68 and 70. l

Means for rotating the product carrier is broadly designated 104, formsno .part of the invention per se, and has not been illustrated indetail. It is sufficient to point'out 4 7 that advancing means 104includes a member 106 capable of reciprocating movement and includes apusher element 108 suited to extend into the apertures 28 in flange 26for advancing the carrier.

Means for limiting the amount of rotation of the product carrier foreach occurrence of operation of advancing means 104, irrespective of thenumber of reciprocations of member 106 for the particular occurrence,comprise clips 110 also not forming a part of the instant invention perse. Clips 110 are received in certain of the apertures 28 and each clipincludes a blocking portion 112 disposed to block or close one-half ofthe particular aperture 28 in which it is disposed. An, inwardlyextending shoulder portion 114 of each clip 110 cooperates with aninwardly extending leg'116 integral with portion 114 to define ,a ledgeagainst which pusher element 108 may engage for advancing the productcarrier. It isto be pointedout that shoulder 114 is disposed atsubstantially the center line of the corresponding aperture 28 for apurpose to be hereinafter described. v

When acustomer, upon deposit of proper coinagein the vending machine,manually opens the closure (not shown) for opening 16 to thereby gainaccess to the product in the compartment aligned with opening 16,heplaces the product carrier in position to beadva'nced 'bythe advancingmeans 194. The structure for accomplishing this pperation includes a'pushenrod 118 operably :coupled with the closure and which, in turn,operates an indexing member 120. Member 120 has a generally curvedfinger 122 which is disposed to enter auproxim'al aperture 28 uponopening of theclosure whereby a curved cam edge 124 of finger 122 engagmthe margin of flange 26 defining the, proximalaperture 28 to therebyadvance the product carrier through a predetermined arc. r t t I r p Theblocking portions 112 of therrespective clips 11'!) prevent the element108 from entering'the apertures 28 inwhich the clips rllli are disposed.Thus, as the .prodruct carrier is rotated through anarc tof bring-anaperture 28 into position to be engaged by element :108 for advancingthe car-rierpn the next stroke of, member 106, if that aperture 28contains-a clip the element'108 cannot enter -into driving relationshipin aperture 28. Therefore, so long as the carrierrem ains in thatposition of alignment of that clipreceiving aperture 28 with respect toelement 7 108, the latter is ineffective fordriving theproduct carrierirrespective of whether member 106 reciprocates or not. 7 Howcv-er, theentry of indexingtmember 1'20 intoian aperture 28 advances the productcarrier through a s'uflicient arc to permit engagement of element 108with the shoulder portion 114 of the clip 110,0nthe nextreciprocation ofmember 106. This, then, permits element 108to advance theproductcarneruntil the next clip 1'10 isencountered. A It will be noted thatthe indexing member12'0 is so disposed in relationship to element 108that finger v122, is in position to enter the aperture 28 next adjacentthe clip 11!) which has just previously been encountered by element 108.L ,2 Y Y. V

Itshohld .bepointed out at this juncture thatthe act of opening theclosure for opening 16 by the customer only operates to places thecorresponding'fiange 26in positio'nfor advancing the product carrier,and assuming a plurality of yer'tic'ally stacked carriers,does not'haveany etlect on the other product carriers 'of the vending .cessivepatterns with respect'to the apertures '28;- The repeatedpatternicomprises the disposition, in succes- ,sion, of twoapertureswithout clips, an aperture 'with' ia fclip, two apertureswithout clips, an aperture Iwith'a clip,

an aperture without a clip, and an aperturewith a clip. it i Inoperation, the chambers of the product carriers are each filled with aproduct 126 shown by dotted lines in the drawings. Chambers 68 areillustrated containing product 126a, while chambers 70 and 102 are showncontaining products 126b and 126C, respectively. The products 126a inchambers 68 serve to hold door 72 in its dividing position betweenchambers 68 and 70.

Upon deposit of proper coinage into vending machine 12, releasemechanism (not shown) is actuated to permit the customer to open theclosure for opening 16. This operation causes the advancement of pusherrod 118- to in turn move indexing member 120 into registry with theproximal aperture 28 of flange 26 for advancing the product carrier asufiicient amount so that element 108 will again be effective to drivethe product carrier after the closure for opening 16 has been returnedto its normal closed position.

Referring now to FIG. 1 wherein is shown the vending machine withchamber 68 aligned with opening 16, it may be seen that the product 126amay be moved by the customer. Indexing member 120 has caused advancementof the product carrier to a position where, when the closure for opening16 is returned to its closed position, the element 108 engages portion114 of clip 110 for advancing the product carrier as member 106reciprocates.

Each succeeding stroke of element 108 causes further rotation of theproduct carrier until the next clip 110 is brought into position whereblocking portion 112 thereof prevents element 108 from entering intodriving engagement with the corresponding aperture 28. This terminatesthe rotation of the product carrier even though member 106 may continueto reciprocate. Element 108 can only resume driving relationship withthe product carrier after the latter has been advanced the amount causedby entry of the finger 122 into an aperture 28 as has been heretoforedescribed.

Even though the product 126a is removed from chamber 68, the door 72 isnot permitted to open under the bias of spring 90. Instead, barrier 98cooperates with tab 94, when component 66 is in the position shown inFIG. 1, to prevent customer access to chamber 70- through chamber 68.

The spacing of only one aperture between the clip 110 adjacent element108 and the next succeeding clip 110 as the product carrier is rotatedin a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, permits the productcarrier to be rotated through only a relatively short are before element108 is stopped from driving the product carrier by such succeeding clip110. Such rotation is suflicient, however, to move tab 94 on door 72past barrier 98 so that door 72 is swung to the open position thereof asshown in FIG. 4. The removal by the customer of product 126a before theclosure for opening 16 was closed now permits door 72 to openautomatically as the product carrier is rotated through a suflicient arcfor tab 94 to clear barrier 98.

Because the rotation effected after the vending of product 126a fromchamber 68 is relatively small, machine 12 is left in position forvending product 12Gb from chamber 70 with compartment 66 still insubstantial alignment with opening 16 as shown in FIG. 4. The operationof the machine by the customer to permit access of product 126k throughchamber 68 causes slight rotation of the product carrier whereby element108 may again drive the product carrier when the closure is againreturned to its closed position.

It may be seen from FIGS. 4 and 6, however, that there are two aperturesbetween these next succeding clips 110 and this allows the productcarrier to be rotated through a relatively greater are until thesucceeding clip 110 is reached whereby element 108 is halted fromdriving the carrier. Such greater are is suficient to bring chamber 102into alignment with opening 16. Thus product 1260 is in position forvending and is accessible to the customer upon deposit of sufiicientmoney for unlocking the closure for opening 16.

Following the vending of product 1260 from chamber 102, the productcarrier is again rotated in the manner heretofore set forth, untilelement 108 engages the next clip 110 encountered as the product carrierrotates. This clip 110 is also spaced from the previous clip 110 by twoopen apertures so that the carrier is again rotated through a relativelylarge arc. Such are is suflicient to bring the next adjacent chamber 68into substantial registry with opening 16 so that its correspondingproduct 126:: may be vended therefrom.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that all of the chambers 68, 70and 102 of the assembly 10 are each successively moved into vendingposition with respect to opening 16 in the manner set forth.

The spacing of the clips cooperates with the novel structure hereindescribed to permit the movement of the product carrier through twoequal arcs forthe vending of products from chambers 102 and 68 and thenthrough a smaller arc to effect unlocking of door 72 to permit vendingof the product from chamber 70 without removing chamber 68 fromsubstantial registry with opening 16. The smaller arc of advancement ofthe product carrier permits customer access to chamber 70 throughchamber 68 without removing the latter from substantial registry Withopening 16. To facilitate the maintenance of chamber 68 in substantialregistry with opening 16 despite advancement of the product carrier, itis to be noted that the effective width of accessopening for chamber 68is substantially less than product delivery opening 16. That portion ofthe outer periphery of member 22 which is along the front of chamber 68,is substantially greater than that which is along the front of chamber102 to provide clearance for door 72 when open as shown in FIG. 4.

It is readily apparent that the novel structure herein set forth permitsa substanit-al increase in the product vending capacity of vendingmachines of the type herein referred to.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto, be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a vending machine having a product delivery opening therein:

a support unit adapted to be mounted Within the machine adjacent saiddelivery opening;

a rotatable product carrier mounted on said support unit and havingstructure thereon defining a series of product-receiving compartmentsindependently re-gistrable with the delivery opening upon rotation ofthe carrier;

' shiftable means on said carrier dividing each of the compartments intoforward and rear chambers each adapted to receive one of said products;and

means on the support unit and operably associated with said shiftablemeans for maintaining the latter in disposition permitting customeraccess to only the forward chamber of a respective compartment when thelatter is located in a first position in substantial alignment with saidproduct delivery opening and permitting shifting of said shiftable meansinto a location providing customer access to the rear cham ber of therespective compartment when the latter 4 carrier includes a generallyplanar plate member having a slot therein, said door having a tabdisposed to extend through the slot and shiftable therein when the dooris was? a r v 7 r pivoted, and wherein is included an elongated barrierrigidly secured to the support unit in disposition to be engaged by thetabtoprevent pivoting of the door when the compartment is located insaid first position.

4.. A mac'hine as set forth inclaim l, wherein is included springmeansoperably coupled with said shiftahle means for biasing the lattertowardsaid location.

5. A machine as set forth in claim l, wherein each of the structuresdefining said compartmen'ts'is disposed in horizontally spacedrelationship from an adjacent coinpartment defining structure to presenttherebetween a third product receiving chamber.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein the carrier isp rovidedwith a pair of opposed, upright side walls disposed to define agenerally reotangularly shaped compartment, said shiftable means beingdisposed to divide the compartment into two chambers of substantiallyequal size.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein the'shifv able meansincludes a door pivoted 0n the carrier and extending across saidcompartment and substantially normal to said side walls when theshiftablemeans is in said chamber defining disposition thereof, therebeing a depending tab on the door, and wherein thecairier includes aplate member underlying said structures, there being a slot in the platemember receiving the tab and extending from a point underlying the doorwhen the latt'eris in the chamber-defining disposition thereof to apointprorrimal one of said sidewalls-and anelongated barrier rigidpartment is in "said second position whereby the'tab ma A move in'theslot to permit'pivotirig of the doo'rt'o a positionsubstantial-lyparallel to said one wall. y

8. In ayending machine having ahousi'ng provided with a delivery openingther'einfa "support ante-mounted within the housing adjacent thedelivery opening, arotatable product carrier mounted on said supportunit in alignment with the delivery opening, said carrier having aperipheral flange thereon provided with a series of apertures therein,and article carrier advancement mechanism within the housing andincluding a shiftable element disposed to engage the flange Within saidapertures therein as the element is shifted to thereby eifct rotation ofthe carrier while the element is coupled to said carrier flange, thecombination with said support unit and the carrier of:

7 8 v divider means on the carrierlocated in nominally ra- :diallyextending relationship with respect tothe a ds of rotation of thecarrier and defining a series of outwardly facing 'product receivingcompartments independently regis'tra'ble with the delivery opening;shiftablemeans on the carrier dividing each of the compartments betweensaid divider means into forward and rear chambers, each adapted toreceive one of said products M i A v 7 a barrier on the support unit" inunderlying relationship to said carrier rand ope rably associated withsaid shiftable means for rnaintaining the latter in dispositionpermitting customer access to only the forward chamber of a respectivecompartment when the 'latter is located in a .first position insubstantial alignment with said product delivery opening and permittingshiftingof said shiftable means into a 'locationprov'iding customeraccess to the rear chamber of the respective compartment when the latteris in a second positionin substantial alignment with the productdelivery opening; and 7 means on the flange of said carrier within saidapertures thereof for effecting uncouplingof "said element from thecarrier after rotation of the latter through an arc to shift the carrierfrom said first positionto the second position of the same during oneperiod of actuation of said mechanism and for eltecting uncoupling ofrthe elernent from said carrier after rotation of the latter from thesec ond position to the first Vpositionthereof of another compartmentduring another period of actuation of the mechanism.

'9. A machine as set forth in claim 8, Wherein the flange of saidcarrier is provided with eight apertures between the divider meansdefining one compartment and a corresponding divider means of the nextadjacent compartment.

i 10. A machine as set forth in claim 9, wherein said flange is providedwith a series'of equally spaced apertures -throughout the entireperiphery thereof. i a

"11. A machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein said uncoupling meansincludes a plurality of clips, each clip "being secured in one of saidapertures, said clips being spaced around the flange in a series ofsuccessive patterns with respect to the apertures, thepatter-ncomprising in succession: two' 'apertureswithout clips, anaperture with a clip, two apertures without clips, an aperture withaclip,an aperture Without a clip, and an aperture with a clip.

No references cited.

1. IN A VENDING MACHINE HAVING A PRODUCT DELIVERY OPENING THEREIN: ASUPPORT UNIT ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED WITHIN THE MACHINE ADJACENT SAIDDELIVERY OPENING; A ROTATABLE PRODUCT CARRIER MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTUNIT AND HAVING STRUCTURE THEREON DEFINING A SERIES OF PRODUCT-RECEIVINGCOMPARTMENTS INDEPENDENTLY REGISTRABLE WITH THE DELIVERY OPENING UPONROTATION OF THE CARRIER; SHIFTABLE MEANS ON SAID CARRIER DIVIDING EACHOF THE COMPARTMENTS INTO FORWARD AND REAR CHAMBERS EACH ADAPTED TORECEIVE ONE OF SAID PRODUCTS; AND MEANS ON THE SUPPORT UNIT AND OPERABLYASSOCIATED WITH SAID SHIFTABLE MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE LATTER INDISPOSITION PERMITTING CUSTOMER ACCESS TO ONLY THE FORWARD CHAMBER OF ARESPECTIVE COMPARTMENT WHEN